Early Orthodontic Treatment

Early orthodontic treatment is any orthodontic service performed before a child’s adult teeth have erupted. At Smile Orthodontics, we perform early treatment to ensure your child grows up with a jaw, smile, and bite that are healthy and properly positioned. It is generally recommended for children between the ages of 7 to 11, when most of their baby teeth are still present. This can help properly position the permanent teeth and jaw as they grow and develop.

Treating issues and guiding growth early allows your child to avoid more serious complications later in life. Various issues can be treated with early treatment, including thumb-sucking habits, tongue thrusting, open bites, crossbites, underbites, and more.

What Problems Can Early Treatment Fix?

When your child receives orthodontic treatment, their permanent teeth can grow straight and enable them to bite down correctly. Additionally, the gums and bone structure can be built up, so that future tooth extractions are unnecessary. Early orthodontic treatment can also help prevent overcrowding and future misalignments of teeth. If your child is already experiencing any of these issues, you should research your orthodontic options and schedule a consultation as soon as possible.

The Benefits of Early Orthodontic Treatment

By receiving early orthodontic treatment, your child is less likely to experience problems such as abnormal alignment or overcrowding of teeth compared to a child who waits to seek treatment. In addition, if your child has jaw problems such as TMJ disorder, early treatment can address their symptoms and help them avoid surgery later in life.

Alignment issues in childhood can lead to severe oral health conditions in adulthood, including tooth loss and gum disease. Receiving an early orthodontic evaluation allows your child’s orthodontist to monitor their teeth and overall development to determine if any orthodontic care is needed early on.

In many cases, your orthodontist may recommend interceptive treatments to gently correct specific issues in a child’s mouth that could become more severe if left untreated. However, it’s important to remember that every child is different; no two children will have the exact needs in orthodontic care. Only an orthodontist can determine whether your child will benefit from early orthodontic treatments. 
 

If you want to learn more about the benefits of early orthodontic treatments for children, contact Smile Orthodontics at 530 39th St, Des Moines 50312, or call (515) 274-4637.You can also visit our other location at 105 Valley West Dr, West Des Moines 50265, or call (515) 225-9245. Our team will be happy to review your child’s specific needs with you to determine the best treatment for their smile.